NEW BERLIN — Vacant with a
history of vandalism, Prospect Hill Elementary School could soon be
torn down and the site redeveloped — more than a decade after
students last walked its halls.

A neighborhood meeting will be held Jan. 30 to discuss the property
at 5330 Racine Avenue, which was purchased in December by
VentureSpace LLC. The company’s owner will describe his plan to
carve up the land for a self-storage facility and commercial
condominiums.

Michael Frede, owner of VentureSpace, said he plans to sell half of
the property to a self-storage company and use the other half to
build affordable garage-like spaces that will be available for
commercial use.

“The reason we are having a public meeting is because we like to get
input and feedback from people living in the area. We want to be
sensitive to people’s concerns and feedback can influence how our
development would actually look,” Frede said. “We don’t want to be a
thorn in people’s sides.”

New Berlin Community Development Director Greg Kessler said the
development plan is still in its infancy, but the city wants Frede
to have the opportunity to present his idea and to engage neighbors.

“The plans aren’t anything other than conceptual,” Kessler said,
adding that the school — boarded up and full of asbestos — will have
to be demolished.

Frede, along with Mayor Dave Ament and Alds. Ken Harenda and Keith
Heun, will hold the public meeting at New Berlin City Hall, 3805 S.
Casper Drive, on Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m.